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With his suspension reduced by a game by MLB, Carlos Carrasco rejoined the Indians on Saturday and will be in the dugout on Sunday against the Rays. He's scheduled to start against New York on Tuesday.
(Chuck Crow, The Plain Dealer)

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- It has been a good couple of weeks for Carlos Carrasco.

He made the Indians' 25-man roster coming out of spring training, but not in the manner he wanted. Carrasco made it as a non-participant because he had to serve a suspension for throwing at Kansas City's Billy Butler in 2011.

When the suspension was served, Carrasco was scheduled to report to Class AAA Columbus. Then a couple of things happened.

Scott Kazmir injured his right rib cage playing catch Monday in Toronto. Kazmir beat out Carrasco for the last spot in the starting rotation, but Saturday he was placed on the disabled list. Trevor Bauer made a spot start in Kazmir's place, but the Indians announced Friday that Carrasco would take his turn in the rotation, making his first start Tuesday against the Yankees.

Then there was the matter about Carrasco's six-game suspension being reduced from six to five games. MLB told the Indians several days ago, but they didn't feel the need to go public with it.

"He'll be able to sit in the dugout with us on Sunday," said manager Terry Francona.

Carrasco was at Tropicana Field on Saturday. He threw a bullpen session, worked out with his teammates and went to his home in Tampa. A player cannot be in the ballpark when he's serving a suspension.

"I was in Columbus on Friday and the manager called me," said Carrasco. "He told me I was going to pitch against the Yankees on Tuesday. It was a big surprise for me. Now I'm with the team and ready to pitch."

Carrasco said his session went well Saturday. In Columbus, he threw a simulated game on Wednesday. He joined the Indians sporting a new look -- a shaved head.

"I did it as soon as I made the team," said Carrasco.

On schedule: Francona said Jason Giambi is on schedule to be activated for Tuesday. Giambi, 42, opened the year on the disabled list with a convenient back injury that allowed the Indians to juggle the roster so Carrasco could serve his suspension.

"I don't see any reason why Giambi won't be activated," said Francona, who is studying the pitching rotations to find a good matchup for the left-handed hitting Giambi. The Indians open a 10-game homestand Monday with four games against the Yankees, three against the White Sox and three more against Boston.

"I don't want him to sit a week after he gets activated," said Francona. "I want to get him in there just like I want to get everybody in there."

Ryan Raburn and Lou Marson made their first starts of the season Saturday. Raburn started in right field and Marson caught. They were the only two position players who hadn't played a game.

Good trade: After the Indians play Sunday, they won't have another game on artificial turf this season. They played three at Rogers Centre and three at Tropicana Field on this six-game trip.

Asked if that was a disadvantage to play so many games on turf to start the season, Francona said, "If you asked any of our players, I think they'd consider it a fair trade. We know we're going to play six straight games where the temperature is always 72 degrees.

"I think that's a great trade off. Besides, the new turf is not like the old turf. It's pretty good."

Finally: Entering Saturday, every team in the AL Central had a 2-2 record. ... Friday's 4-0 loss marked just the third time in the last 23 years that the Indians have been held scoreless within the first four games of the season. The other two came on opening day courtesy of the White Sox on April 4, 2005 and April 5, 2010. Mark Buehrle was the winning pitcher both times.

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